High street health tests are producing incorrect results, research has found.
A study by the University of Birmingham concluded that
DIY tests for
high cholesterol, vitamin deficiency, menopause and
prostate problems are not always reliable.
Researchers said the tests, available in supermarkets and pharmacies, risked giving people the wrong result, and could delay diagnosis. And most of them recommend follow-up with a doctor regardless of the result.
The study team added that the self-tests were likely to be fuelling needless anxiety among consumers and heaping
extra pressures on GPs.
Medicines watchdog to examine findings
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which regulates medical products, says it will look at the findings.
Prof Jon Deeks, who led the study, said the research raised concerns about “the suitability, accuracy and usability of many of the self-testing products available that require users to sample, test and interpret results themselves”.
In some cases, there was no evidence to support the accuracy of results, he said.
